Before the Spanish came, the Aztecs pretty much stomped all over the other tribes of Mexico. Being the fiercest and most warlike of the people of Central America, nobody really messed with the Aztecs.
In a sense, the Aztec empire was already in a gradual decline, and they were pretty much doomed to be conquered. Their conquest can be considered inevitable. The Aztecs already had dwindling numbers due to the constant sacrifices and there were many other reasons that would lead to the fall, like the Aztecs religious belief that their God would return on a boat from the sea, and the Aztecs unending hospitality which would lead them to be tricked. The Aztecs were also very susceptible to the diseases of the Europeans because they were never exposed to it before.
The king of the Aztecs at the time, Montezuma, knew of the prophecy that one day their god, Quetzalcoatl, would return and come from the sea. So when Cortes came, Montezuma simply assumed it was the wayward deity. To know the events in a more concise manner, here is a timeline:
1. On March 4th, 1519, the Spaniards, led by Hernan Cortes, land in Mexico. The mexicans greeted him with gifts.
2. Cortes sinks all the Spanish ships in order that his men don't desert him on their long journey.
3. On November 8th of 1519, Cortes arrives in Tenochtitlan on good terms with the Aztec people.
But then Cortes demand that the Aztecs turn from their evil ways and worship in the Catholic way. He destroys and defiles the sacred relics of the helpless Aztecs and replaces them with Catholic objects;
"Three halls are in this grand temple, which contain the principal idols; these are of wonderful extent and height, and admirable workmanship, adorned with figures sculptured in stone and wood; leading from the halls are chapels with very small doors, to which the light is not admitted, nor are any persons except the priests, and not all of them. In these chapels are the images of idols, although, as I have before said, many of them are also found on the outside; the principal ones, in which the people have greatest faith and confidence, I precipitated from their pedestals, and cast them down the steps of the temple, purifying the chapels in which they had stood, as they were all polluted with human blood, shed ill the sacrifices. In the place of these I put images of Our Lady and the Saints, which excited not a little feeling in Moctezuma and the inhabitants, who at first remonstrated, declaring that if my proceedings were known throughout the country, the people would rise against me; for they believed that their idols bestowed on them all temporal good, and if they permitted them to be ill-treated, they would be angry and without their gifts, and by this means the people would be deprived of the fruits of the earth and perish with famine. I answered, through the interpreters, that they were deceived in expecting any favors from idols, the work of their own hands, formed of unclean things; and that they must learn there was but one God, the universal Lord of all, who had created the heavens and earth, and all things else, and had made them and us; that He was without beginning and immortal, and they were bound to adore and believe Him, and no other creature or thing.
I said everything to them I could to divert them from their idolatries, and draw them to a knowledge of God our Lord. Moctezuma replied, the others assenting to what he said, AThat they had already informed me they were not the aborigines of the country, but that their ancestors had emigrated to it many years ago; and they fully believed that after so long an absence from their native land, they might have fallen into some errors; that I having more recently arrived must know better than themselves what they ought to believe; and that if I would instruct them in these matters, and make them understand the true faith, they would follow my directions, as being for the best. Afterwards, Moctezuma and many of the principal citizens remained with me until I had removed the idols, purified the chapels, and placed the images in them, manifesting apparent pleasure; and I forbade them sacrificing human beings to their idols as they had been accustomed to do; because, besides being abhorrent in the sight of God, your sacred Majesty had prohibited it by law, and commanded to put to death whoever should take the life of another. Thus, from that time, they refrained from the practice, and during the whole period of my abode in that city, they were never seen to kill or sacrifice a human being."(Letter from Hernan Cortes to King Charles V, 1520. http://www.fordham.edu)
4. The Aztec ruler was angry at the Spaniards, but fortunately Cortes left in the nick of time to defeat a rival Spanish conquistador. On his way back, Cortes decided to conquer the Aztec people. 5. Cortes arrives in full force, with complete domination in mind. The Aztecs revolt and drive the Spanish from Tenochtitlan. 6. Cortes conquers the smaller Aztec cities, and eventually lays siege to Tenochtitlan.
7. On August 13th, 1521, Cuauhtemoc, the last emperor of the Aztecs, surrenders the city to Cortes.
The Aztecs were not defeated by the sheer force of the Spaniards. The Aztecs highly outnumbered the Spanish, and were far superior in combat. The reason the Spanish won is due to three things. Guns, horses, and disease. The Aztecs, who had never seen a gun or a horse before, were terrified of this new warfare technology. Sheer terror defeated many of the Aztecs. As the siege was laid on Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs were met with a new enemy. Smallpox. Many of the Aztecs died or were weakened by this disease that the Europeans were generally immune to. This biological warfare is what really defeated the Aztecs.
Though they would be considered a savage and primitive civilization, the Aztecs were advanced not only in warfare, like mentioned in the post on warriors, but also in architecture, math, and agriculture. These advancements helped the Aztecs thrive.
ARCHITECTURE
The Aztecs city of Tenochtitlan was almost unparalleled in the world of Mexican civilizations. The Aztecs found a good place to raise a metropolis. They decided on the center of a lake. This not only helped them with agriculture and fishing, but it kept their city safe from invaders.
The bridges were used to access the city.
The mathematical and architectural feats of the Aztecs are almost unbelievable. The temples were large and foreboding, the main temple being that the one dedicated toHuitzilopochtli.
The largest temple in Tenochtitlan, used for sacrifices. It was over 197 feet!
The temples were unbelievably strong and some have stood to this day. They were built to withstand earthquakes which were common in that time.
THE AZTEC CALENDAR
In 1479 the Aztecs carved a calendar stone.
A picture of the Aztec Calendar Stone.
The Aztecs focused on special dates for honoring different gods. This worship called for something that could help them keep track of the time. So they made that thing. Of course, the calendar was dedicated to the Sun God. The actual calendar was enormous; about three feet thick, twelve feet across, and weighing almost 25 tones.
The first Aztec calendar was called the xiuhpohualli, and marked the year to have 365 days. The actual length of these days was almost exactly to that of the solar cycle, the Aztecs simply forgot the leap year. The Aztecs were gifted astronomers and studied the stars enough to make the calendar.
The Aztecs believed that the world would end in the year of 2012, because that was the year that their calendar ended, but obviously they were wrong. But as a side affect, this movie was made;
AGRICULTURE
Aztec's were expert farmers. Their area, the Valley of Mexico, had rich, fertile, soil which allowed for rapid cultivation of crops.
CHINAMPAS
Chinampas were a quaint but useful agricultural technique used by the Aztecs around Tenochtitlan. This method of irrigation which used rectangular areas of crops within the lake.
The chinampas provided rich soil for the Aztec crops. This feat of irrigation is inspiring and was used by many people since.
The Aztecs also used terraces.
Terraces were basically hills that were used to create deeper soil, even if the land was flat.
As you can see, the Aztecs, though maybe not exactly technologically, were highly advanced for their age and area. They mapped out the stars and created a calendar. They created awe-inspiring temples in the middle of a lake. They used agricultural techniques that were not only impressive but also risky.
A painting showing the ferocity of an Aztec warrior, known as the Jaguar.
WARRIORS OF THE AZTECS
The Aztecs have gone down in history as one of the most ferocious and militant civilizations to ever have existed. Though their primitive weapons were no match for the Spaniards guns and horses, the Aztecs dominated local tribes and civilizations violently and efficiently.
A famous enemy of the Aztecs, Tlahuicole fighting viciously against the Jaguars and Eagle Knights.
When a boy turned 17 he could choose to join the Aztec military. He would start of in the lower ranks and eventually build yourself up to the rank of Eagle Knight or Aztec Jaguar by capturing a load of prisoners for the use of sacrifice.
A picture of an Aztec Eagle Knight.
Eventually, if they were not killed, the boy would become a man, and that man would join the ranks of the highest and most powerful of Mexican warriors. The Jaguars.
A projected version of a Jaguar as seen in Deadliest Warrior.
WEAPONS
The Aztecs were different then the other civilizations of Mexico in the area of military technology. The Jaguars were fast and versatile. They were not weighed down by heavy shields or swords. The weapons of the Aztecs were brutally efficient, and served the warriors well in their flower wars(a quest for slaves)
THE MAQUAHUITL
Probably one of the most hard-core weapons in history, the maquahuitl was the primary form of arms wielded by the Aztecs.
The maquahuitl was a club made out of light wood with razor sharp obsidian spikes or blades stuck on the sides. The maquahuitl was easy to wield, light, and is said to have been so sharp and powerful that it could cut off a horses head in a single blow.
THE ATLATL
The atlatl was a stick used to propel spears a long distance with incredible accuracy.
The Jaguars used this spear throwing method to crush enemies from a long distance, usually farther than the enemy could reach.
The Jaguars and Eagles also used various spears, bows and arrows, and clubs, and a form of a mace called a cuauhololli.
"Huitzilopochtli is first in rank, no one, no one is like unto him: not vainly do I sing coming forth in the garb of our ancestors, I shine, I glitter" - An ancient Aztec hymn (translated by Daniel G. Brinton)
The Aztec civilization was dominated by religion. Everything they did was somehow related to religion; their daily lives revolved around their beliefs. Their religion itself was a complex system of various gods, dates, and directions. It seemed to revolve around the ideas of the fear of nature and the end of the world. Religion and politics were in close reaction.
CREATION
In accordance to Aztec history, it took the gods five consecutive tries. Each attempt was futile because of fighting within the ranks of the gods. The first time the earth was destroyed because of Tezcatlipola, the first creator, a god who was demoted and therefore turned into a jaguar and destroyed the world.
Tezcatlipola, the first creator. After the fourth try to create the earth, the gods decided they needed a new sun god. A humble god named Nanauatl(A.K.A Nahuatl)sacrificed himself to become the new sun god. Nanauatl, the Sun God Unfortunately, Nanauatl would not move. The god Ehecatl made a sacrifice that allowed a strong wind to blow the sun and therefore there would be sunrise and sunset. Because this sacrifice could not fully appease the Sun God, the Aztecs had to continue to sacrifice as time went on. As soon as there was a sun, the gods decided to finally make the earth for good. Quetzalcoatl, a serpent god, was in charge of making humans. An artists rendition of Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl recycled the previous human remains, but in the process broke all the bones, resulting in people coming in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Along with his own blood, he made humans. NATURE AND BALANCE
The Aztec religion was all about keeping nature in balance. The Aztecs made sacrifices to the sun god in order to keep it from stopping completely. The Aztecs new that it was a fine line they were treading on. In order to win a battle against darkness, the warrior sun god, Huitzilopochtlineeded a daily blood sacrifice. Huitzilopochtli, the Warrior Sun Every 52 years, the Aztecs thought the world would end. The Aztecs destroyed everything they owned and and start mourning, until they saw the constellation of Pleiades, which would assure them that the world would go on, at least for another 52 years. Hahaha. The religious realm of the Aztecs was divided into four parts; the center being the city of Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan was considered the part where the heavens and the underworld met. Aztecs believed that the afterlife was directly related to how you died. Those who were sacrificed would join the battle against darkness alongside Huitzilopochtli. They believed that some spirits of people would roam the earth, and some would be reincarnated into a flying creature(birds or butterflies) and eventually into a human. PRACTICES(SACRIFICE) The Aztecs were known well for their sacrifices, especially of humans. By human sacrifice and military conquest, the Aztecs believed they could keep the sun rising. The practice of human sacrifice is probably the most infamous ritual of the Aztecs. The ritual was daily and would go like this: 1. Choose a slave, criminal, or volunteer to sacrifice. 2. Lay them out on top of the temple built for Huitzilopochtli. 3. Stab them in the chest. 4. Take their heart out from there chest to ensure maximum bloodletting. 5. Hold the heart up to the sun for maximum honor. 6. Kick the body down the stairs of the temple. As you can see, this was a very graphic activity to occur on a day to day basis. In Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, a scene portrays the sacrifice of a human for the sun god.
The estimated amount of people sacrificed by the Aztecs every year was around 20,000.
A painting depicting human sacrifice.
This is obviously a violent part of Aztec history, but unfortunately, it is what they are most known for. The video above depicts a ritual sacrifice, not a daily one. A ritual sacrifice happened every 18 months and the victim would be painted. Victims would be sacrificed in various other ways such as being burned to death, shot with arrows, or forced to fight to the death gladiator style. Basically, whether it was people or animals, the Aztecs sacrificed a lot. The Aztecs worshiped their gods through hymns and chants, along with prayer, but mostly sacrifices.
The Aztec people enjoyed a rich life of food, music, and especially games. Many delicious mexican foods came from the Aztecs. They enjoyed lives full of art, music, food, and games.
ART
A fresco of a snake.
Aztec art was highly influenced by the history of the Aztecs and other tribes. The Aztecs called their artwork toltecat which derived from the tribe of the Toltecs(made the statues shown in the article The Beginning of the Aztecs).
Aztec art showed a deep appreciation for nature. Animals all played a major part in their paintings and sculptures.
Much of the clothing and head dresses of the Aztecs were very beautiful and artistic. Jewels and feathers adorned them. Though they did not have as many paintings and sculptures as other ancient civilizations, they definitely had style.
An Aztec head dress and dagger.
A big part of Aztec culture was story telling, which was often done through art. The Aztecs frescos and mosaics were used almost as storyboards, telling legends and tales, and sometimes just daily life.
Masks were often covered in turqouise mosaic. This was a very common form of Aztec artwork.
FOOD
The Aztec staple was a mealy corn that they called maize. This was and still is one of the most common foods in Mexico.
The maize was used much in their food; they made tortillas, bread, and tamales from it.
An Aztec woman making tortillas over a stone griddle.
Aztecs also ate a lot of beans. They ate beans mainly because it was harder for them to hunt meat. Though they were experienced hunters, the Aztecs relied mostly on their agricultural skills. The Aztecs ate food high on protein and energy, like cashews, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and especially chocolate. The Aztecs not only domesticated bees for honey, they also raised turkeys. Meat played a minor part in the Aztec society, but they would hunt for deer, rabbits, and even iguana! They also were skilled fishers and the lake surrounding Tenochtitlan was rich with shrimp.
Chocolate is the greatest gift of the Aztec civilization. The word chocolate actually comes from the Aztec word chocolatl.
The cocoa bean was so highly valued, it was used as currency! The Aztecs first used used the cocoa bean to make a rich chocolaty drink, in which they used pepper and spices to flavor rather then milk and sugar. To learn how to make a similar drink, called atole, go here; http://www.experience-san-miguel-de-allende.com/atole-recipe.html
Chocolate was brought to Europe by Columbus, but did not gain popularity until Hernan Cortes used the cocoa beans with milk and sugar.
MUSIC
"Each lord had in his house a chapel with composer-singers of dances and songs, and these were thought to be ingenious in knowing how to compose the songs in their manner of meter and the couplets that they had. Ordinarily they sang and danced in the principal festivities that were every twenty days, and also on other less principal occasions..."(Geronimo de Mendieta)
The above quote came from a Spanish friar describing he music of the Aztecs and the influence it had. Like I said before, a big part of Aztec culture was storytelling. Music was not only used for enjoyment, but to pass on important cultural influences to younger generations, and connecting to life.
During their career in school many children learned music. These musicians often stayed in the quarters of nobles as their own personal band in their own personal studio, described above.
The Aztecs sang many sacred hymns to honor their Gods. The hymns usually told tales of the Gods. The hymns would also be used to pray to the Gods for rain or victory in battle.
Another form of Aztec song is known as cantares. Better known as "Ghost Songs", these songs would be sung before battle along with mystical dances. They were eerie and tribal, recounting the times of the past when previous warriors had gained success over their adversaries. The Aztecs believed they could channel their ancestors and the spirit world through these songs and chants. To your right you can listen to a beautiful song in the style of a cantare.
The Aztecs used very tribal instruments
GAMES
Many Aztec games and sports are still played today. Most Aztec games would have some sort of religious significance. A good example would be the game of ullamaliztli.
A tlachti.(Ball court)
Ullamaliztli was a very important part of Aztec society. Every time they began a new settlement, they built two things; a shrine to the god Huitzilopochtli, and a court for ullamaliztli.
The game was played with two teams. The teams would begin at each side of the court. The point of the game was to get the ball through either of the holes. However, it was so difficult to put the ball through the hole, that once it was accomplished the game would be over. The game was so extremely difficult; it was played with a hard rubber ball weighing about 9 pounds which was not allowed to touch the ground, and could not be touched by the hands. Since it was so hard to put the ball through the hole, there were substitute objectives. A player could aim to hit any of the six markers along the side of the court. Players could also be awarded points for making a skillful play.
The game of ullamaliztli.
During the game, gambling was very common among the spectators. Gambling is very prevalent in Aztec society; almost anything you owned could be gambled.
Politically, this game was very important. Because each team would play neighboring city states or tribes, and a win would be used to establish dominance or settle a dispute. As you can see it was a very important game to the Aztecs
The game was very important to the Aztec religion as well. It symbolized the battle between the day and the night as well as mirrored the ball court of the heavens. The ball represented the head of the victim, and the court lay at the end of the steps to the sacrificial table. It is said that in some of the most ritualistic matches, the losing team would be sacrificed.
A form of this ball game is still played today and goes by the name of ulama. To get a glimpse of what it was like, watch he video on the right.
Ullamaliztli was certainly the most important game played by the Aztecs. However, it was not the only one. Patolli was a very beloved board game of the Aztecs.
Patolli was popular with both the nobles and the commoners. The main point of the game was betting; Aztecs would bet precious stones or feathers as they played the game. The game was so common, that people often walked around with their game mats in case a challenge arouse. To see how to play patolli, go here; http://www.ehow.com/how_5108184_play-patolli.html
As you can see the Aztecs had very rich and harmonious lives when they were not fighting. The Aztecs were very advanced in their art and culture, even if they were not technologically advanced.
The Aztecs seemingly lived primitively during the 14th - 16th centuries. Though they may not have been defined as civilized, they had many agricultural and architectural advancements, and were fierce hunters and fighters.
SOCIAL CLASSES
The Aztec culture was dominated by two social classes. The upper class was known as the pilli, who were the leaders, politicians, doctors, and military officers, and the lower class or commoners were known as the macehualli, which would be the farmers, warriors, and craftsmen. Then you had your slaves. However, the slaves were usually very well-treated. Slavery was not hereditary. You could not be born into slavery. The pilli and macehualli are the two most important castes in the social pyramid, but here is a picture to give you a more detailed idea of how it was.
EDUCATION
The Aztecs were all generally educated. Boys received a wider education than girls, who learned to cook and take care of a family. Women actually had a lot of say in society. This mandatory education is actually very rare, historically. It is similar to the public school system of the U.S. The boys were trained as warriors and leaders. The social hierarchy was still evident in the education system. The children of the higher pilli were taught to be doctors, teachers, priests and politicians. The children of the macehualli were taught to be warriors and tradesmen.
A painting of Aztec children going to school.
MARRIAGE
Adult life began around the age of 16. Many boys would join the military, while some stayed and continued their trades. Girls would marry the man they were decided to. They would raise a family together, and even though polygamy was allowed, there would still be a primary wife.
LANGUAGE
The language of the Aztec's was called Nahuatl. It is actually still spoken today. The language actually was what started the Aztec Civilization. When the first Nahuatl speakers began to settle in Mexico, is when the Aztec nation's long timeline begins. To get a glimpse of what Nahuatl language sounded like here is a small clip that will teach you how to count to ten in Nahuatl!
GOVERNMENT
The Aztec Civilization would be considered an empire. At the heart of the empire lay the beutiful city of Tenochtitlan and residing in that city was the current ruler of the Aztecs. The empire had a foundation of city-states, where local governments would vary but all city states would have to pay tribute and taxes to Tenochtitlan. This system worked very well for the Aztecs, and kept the civilians happy and content, while still being able to conquer new lands.
FAMILY
An Aztec family began for the man in his early 20's and the woman in her late teens. The marriage would be arranged and the couple given permission by the leaders. After that family life began. The husband could have many wives, but only needed the ceremony for his first wife.
Literally, tying the knot. A painting of an Aztec wedding ceremony.
After the ceremony, the couple immediately began to make babies. A family could grow very large due to the amount of wives. Though men were dominating society at the time, women had a lot of power in comparison to the rest of history. Women often had businesses from there home. Old women were also very respected.
Adultery was a crime punishable by death. Divorce was allowed, but property and money was strictly split between the fueding spouses.
Once married, the family was given land. The woman would care for the home and bear children, and the man would work. This way of marriage and family was very evident in Aztec society.
An Aztec family sharing a meal.
Though the tribe is no longer existent, more than a million people who are direct ancestors of the Aztecs are alive today. They still speak Nahautl and reside in the Valley of Mexico. However most are mixes of different tribes and there are also many people who are a mix of Spanish and Aztec. Many people have Aztec roots and a small percent consider themselves pure Aztec.
